Browse "Noun" Characters

Every character has an origin. Discover the pictographs, myths, and history behind each Chinese character — with pinyin, stroke order, HSK level, and audio pronunciation.

温度

wēn dù

温度 (wēn dù) literally combines 温 (wēn), mean

销售部

xiāo shòu bù

销售部 (xiāo shòu bù) literally combines three

编辑部

biān jí bù

‘编辑部’ (biān jí bù) literally means ‘editi

军事部

jūn shì bù

‘军事部’ (jūn shì bù) literally means ‘milit

一部小说

yī bù xiǎo shuō

'Yī bù xiǎo shuō' literally means 'one part (b

文化部

wén huà bù

‘文化部’ (wén huà bù) is the official Chinese

教育部

jiào yù bù

教育部 (jiào yù bù) is the official government

民意

mínyì

"Mínyì" literally combines 民 (mín), meaning "t

民俗

mínsú

‘民俗’ (mínsú) literally combines ‘民’ (mín

人民

rénmín

‘Rénmín’ (人民) literally combines ‘rén’ (p

国民

guómín

‘国民’ (guómín) literally combines ‘国’ (gu

农民

nóngmín

农民 (nóngmín) literally combines 农 (nóng), me

鼻孔

bí kǒng

鼻孔 (bí kǒng) literally means 'nose hole' — 鼻

鼻梁

bí liáng

鼻梁 (bí liáng) literally means 'nose beam'—'鼻

鼻塞

bí sāi

鼻塞 (bí sāi) literally means 'nose blockage' —

鼻炎

bí yán

鼻炎 (bí yán) literally means 'nose inflammation

鼻涕

bí tì

鼻涕 (bí tì) literally combines 鼻 (bí), meanin

鼻子

bí·zi

鼻子 (bí·zi) is the standard colloquial term for

黄豆

huáng dòu

‘Huáng dòu’ (soybean) is a common noun referri

黄历

huáng lì

‘Huangli’ (黄历) is the traditional Chinese alma

黄牛

huáng niú

‘黄牛’ literally means 'yellow ox' — a traditio

黄金

huáng jīn

黄金 literally means 'yellow metal' — 黄 (huáng)

黄瓜

huáng guā

‘Huáng guā’ literally means ‘yellow melon’,

鸟语

diǎo yǔ

‘Bird talk’ (鸟语) literally combines 鸟 (diǎo,

鸟毛

diǎo máo

'Bird feather' literally, but in colloquial Mandar

鸟样

diǎo yàng

'Bird appearance' — literally 'bird' (鸟) plus 'a

鸟人

diǎo rén

'Bird person' (鸟人) is a slangy, playfully deroga

鸟蛋

diǎo dàn

‘鸟蛋’ literally means ‘bird egg’, but in coll

鸟事

diǎo shì

‘鸟事’ (diǎo shì) is a colloquial, mildly vulg

海鲜

hǎi xiān

‘海鲜’ (hǎi xiān) literally combines ‘海’ (h

铁骑

tiě qí

‘铁骑’ literally combines ‘iron’ (铁) and ‘ca

骑射

qí shè

骑射 (qí shè) literally combines 骑 (to ride, es

骑术

qí shù

骑术 (qí shù) literally combines 骑 (qí), meani

骑士

qí shì

骑士 (qí shì) literally combines 骑 (qí), meani

骑手

qí shǒu

骑手 literally combines 骑 (qí), meaning 'to ride

骑兵

qí bīng

骑兵 (qí bīng) literally means 'riding soldiers'

马车

mǎ chē

马车 (mǎ chē) literally means 'horse vehicle' —

赛马

sài mǎ

‘Sài mǎ’ literally means ‘race horse’—‘sà

黑马

hēi mǎ

‘黑马’ (hēi mǎ) literally means 'black horse'

香烟

xiāng yān

‘香烟’ literally means ‘fragrant smoke’, combi